Moving files from one hard-drive to another!

[Deleted]

My PC has two hard drives fitted, the standard C and additional D drive which I have been saving my files/data to. I was lead to believe that the C drive ideally should contain only the files required to run Windows, I don't know how true that it, however, my C drive has turned RED after the latest Windows 10 update yesterday. What files can I safely move from the C drive to the D drive to ensure my PC keeps running properly! Recently for some strange reason my PC changed its own settings and items like my printer stopped working, however I have now reset that and it works again. Strange these computers, the seem to have a mind of their own 

[Noberator]

Sept 21, 2018 16:55:12 GMT 1 @hybrid said:

My PC has two hard drives fitted, the standard C and additional D drive which I have been saving my files/data to. I was lead to believe that the C drive ideally should contain only the files required to run Windows, I don't know how true that it, however, my C drive has turned RED after the latest Windows 10 update yesterday. What files can I safely move from the C drive to the D drive to ensure my PC keeps running properly! Recently for some strange reason my PC changed its own settings and items like my printer stopped working, however I have now reset that and it works again. Strange these computers, the seem to have a mind of their own 

Select the Folder containing the data you want to move.

Highlight the data you want to copy and paste then right click on the highlighted area. A menu will pop up. Left-click on Copy.

Next navigate to the drive that you want to paste the data in and click on it to open it up on the right side. (You should find it listed under My Computer on the left side of Explorer.)

Right click anywhere in the right window and a menu will again pop up(Copy Folder) and left click on Paste.

Your data should now be copied into the new location.

I wouldn't delete anything on C:/ Drive until your 100% sure it's safe to do so.

How to make space in C drive.

Deleting system files

Open File Explorer.
Right click the drive running out of space and select Properties.
Click the Disk Cleanup button.
Click the Cleanup system files button.
Select the files you want to delete to free up space.
Click the OK button.
Click the Delete Files button.


Rhyds may have another better method.

[Deleted]

Thanks Noberator the main problem I have besides your good advice how to move the files is knowing which files I can safely move without stopping the Windows system malfunctioning!

[Noberator]

Sept 21, 2018 17:50:07 GMT 1 @hybrid said:

Thanks Noberator the main problem I have besides your good advice how to move the files

is knowing which files I can safely move without stopping the Windows system malfunctioning!

That's one for Rhyds our computer wizz.

[Deleted]

Sept 21, 2018 18:22:41 GMT 1 Noberator said:

Sept 21, 2018 17:50:07 GMT 1 @hybrid said:

Thanks Noberator the main problem I have besides your good advice how to move the files

That's one for Rhyds our computer wizz.

I think he's gone on permanent sick leave 

[chippie]

You might aalso want to defragment your C drive too, to free up space...

If you follow the instruction given by Noberator in cleaning up your drive, there is no danger at all in deleting any system files...Files that exist in in there are not considered vital to the running of your system which is why they are there in the first place.

If we dont hear from you over the next few days, we know why....

[Deleted]

Thanks chippie however I don't really use that PC for much except the PicoScope and trade use sort of speak 

[rhyds]

Sorry, been off work for a week and away on a short break!

Right, a few things first:

1: What version of windows are you running?

2: are the C and D drives physically separate devices?

3: What size is each of them?

[Deleted]

Sept 23, 2018 19:31:00 GMT 1 rhyds said:

Sorry, been off work for a week and away on a short break!

Right, a few things first:

1: What version of windows are you running?

2: are the C and D drives physically separate devices?

3: What size is each of them?

1. Windows 10

2. yes

3. D drive is Kingston A400 2.5" 120GB / SSD SATA III 2.5 inch Solid State Drive

4. C drive is T11 Windows 10 Mini Desktop PC HTPC Smart Media Player TV Box 2GB+32GB WIFI BT

Hope that helps, thanks rhyds

[Deleted]

Another thing I've noticed the other day with the PC when viewing a video is that there is no sound!

What can I buy to add sound to this MINI PC?

[rhyds]

Right, if you've only got 32GB to play with on the main C drive I'd definitely limit that to windows itself and a select few other programs that don't like running on a partition/drive that isn't the windows one.

The easiest stuff to move first are the user profile folders (documents/downloads/music) etc. Instructons available here: www.dummies.com/computers/operating-systems/windows-10/how-to-change-the-location-of-user-folders-in-windows-10/

The other thing you can do is when you install programs change the drive letter from C: to D: when running the installer. You can't move the files after installation unfortunately, but you could uninstall and then reinstall programs to move them. Otherwise you're limited to clearing things like temp directories and other un-needed files using disk cleanup support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4026616/windows-10-disk-cleanup

As for sound, are you using an HDMI output for the screen? Is this putting out sound? If not, and the unit doesn't have its own sound output for speakers/headphones you can get USB based speakers like these (look for cheaper options, but make sure they're USB only and not USB for power and headphone plug for audio) www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/logitech_s150_digital_usb_-_pc_multimedia_speakers_980-000029/version.asp?refsource=LDadwords&refsource=ldadwords&mkwid=sVUgHpe0C_dc&pcrid=290820857183&product=980-000029&pgrid=57678533999&ptaid=pla-301458888906&gclid=CjwKCAjw85zdBRB6EiwAov3Rise9i7wi-Y5JIq56ogocKygICFuXi2Wkt-fo_u2XbQEVL-2-c5V6EhoCRLgQAvD_BwE

[Stilo]

The other consideration too with a small OS disk is if there needs to be a page file for memory swaps. If it's on the D drive then that could be a cause of performance problems too.

Also, if any of those disks are SSD, don't defrag them....

[Deleted]

Thanks guys for your valid input, it is very much appreciated. I have not had any spare time until today to look at the hard drives, so the C drive, in theory it is a 32GB but looking at the details today it seems smaller for some reason!

Anyway I have done a cleanup of the C drive today and it seems to have saved quite a lot of space, if I were on that PC now I'd be able to see and give a reading of storage space now available, but can't remember the details, but definitely out of the RED zone again with a good few GB's free space, so I have made some improvements. 

I've bought two speakers from Ebay USB ones for a £5, they'll not break the bank even if I can't use them, but hopefully everything will be OK. I do have an additional USB hub connected and using its own power supply. I've also bought a wireless keyboard with a wireless mouse which I'm hoping will arrive tomorrow. 

The current mouse I use is good but was struggling with resting it on surfaces in use, however, I found that large mouse mats are available so I bought one for £3.99 delivered from Ebay. After using it with the mouse I have at the moment, I must say it is brilliant in use with the new mat. Anyone who uses the PicoScope rulers for precision detail here will know exactly what I mean when aligning the rulers using a mouse.